The 2012 CITIC PACIFIC ShenZhou Peninsula Pro hosted by Wanning got off to a great start today with the world’s best longboarders battling through Rounds 1 and 2. The surf at the main contest site was near flat so the call was made to move two kilometres up the beach where fun 2 – 3 foot (1 – 1.5 meter) waves were rolling in from out the back, all the way into the shore.

Taylor Jensen (USA), reigning ASP World Longboard Champion overcame illness to post an opening Round win at Riyuewan, Hainan Island China today. Jensen has been in bed with an IV drip for the last few days after catching a stomach bug en route to China, the win today sees him skip Round 2 and advance directly into Round 3.

“Today is the best I’ve felt in the last three days, but I still feel pretty bad,” Jensen said. “I spent two days in bed with IVs in my arm just trying to get back to being fit. Whatever that flu bug was it got me pretty bad. This heat was important for me to win because I get the rest of today off, now I can go back to the hotel, get some sleep and some fluids into me. Then I’ll be ready to go tomorrow for what looks like is going to be a big day of surfing.”

Duane Desoto (HAW), 2010 ASP World Longboard Champion, today showcased his trademark power and flow to post an impressive Round 1 win. Desoto used the long running waves to unleash his classic Hawaiian style, impressing the judges and advancing to Round 3 where he will face Japan’s Yuji Hata (JPN).

“The main contest site was totally flat,” Desoto said. “We switched to this alternate site and the waves are small but good. It’s good to get the opening Round win and now I can focus on getting myself ready for tomorrow. We almost wrote this year off thinking we wouldn’t have an event so we’re grateful to the Chinese people and event sponsors for making this happen.”

Antoine Delpero (FRA) is a threat in any and all conditions and today was no different. He was one of the day’s standout surfers, catching the best waves in his heat and earning scores seemingly with ease. Antoine and his brother Edouard Delpero (FRA) both advanced to Round 3 today.

“It’s strange to be here in some way,” Antoine Delpero said. “You don’t often hear of surfing in China. It’s a beautiful spot here, but today there are long waits for waves. I was lucky to get two good waves. We are lucky to be here, one event is better than nothing, but it’s also hard because you can’t make any mistakes.”

Phil Rajzman (BRA), 2007 ASP World Champion, was one of the standout performers at the CITIC PACIFIC ShenZhou Peninsula Pro today. Rajzman unleashed progressive manoeuvres and one of the day’s most critical nose rides to easily advance to Round 3 and start his 2012 ASP World Longboard title campaign in style.

“I’m very happy that I had two good waves in the heat,” Rajzman said. “This contest is all the best guys in the world so all of the heats are going to be hard. I was very young when I started surfing and I never though that surfing would bring me to China, I’m just happy to be here.”

Ben Skinner (GBR) advanced through one of the toughest heats of the day over Brazilian Eduardo Bage (BRA) and Hawaiian Keegan Edwards (HAW). Bage was penalised with an interference after he and Skinner caught the same peak, with the judges deeming that Skinner had right of way.

“We were pretty wave starved in that heat,” Skinner said. “It was a tough heat, Eduardo (Bage) and Keegan (Edwards) are both really good surfers. That wave was a peak, it could have been a left or a right, I was just up and riding about four or five meters before Eduardo and he tried to cut me and go right, but I held my line and went left. It could have gone either way. Eduardo and I are friends so there’s no hard feelings he just said he’d get me back later. We have come a long way, there’s one event and it’s something worth fighting for and I’m stoked to be flying the flag for the UK.”

Harley Ingleby (AUS), 2009 ASP World Longboard Champion, suffered an uncharacteristic Round 1 loss at the hands of American Cole Robbins (USA) today, forcing him to fight it our in Round 2. Ingleby was the event’s highest seed in the first elimination Round and he drew event replacement surfer, longboard legend and star of the world famous Endless Summer 2′Wingnut’. Ingleby bounced back to his best and carved and nose rode his way into Round 3, eliminating Wingnut who is at the event as a commentator.

“There are some good waves but also long waits for sets,” Ingleby said. “Having an extra heat at this point of the contest isn’t such a bad thing, getting a feel for the waves and my board was good. It was really good to have a heat with Wingnut, he’s one of those guys that I’ve always thought was an absolute legend. I used to ride for Robert August surfboards and now with my affiliation with Surftech I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a classic character, it was good to be out there with him and enjoy some friendly banter.”

Dylan Macleod (ZAF) won his opening heat with a last second wave that saw him leapfrog countrymen Justin Bing (ZAF), take the win to advance directly into Round 3. Macleod will take on Ingleby in the first heat of Round 3 when competition resumes.

“I’m from South Africa so I had to catch four planes to get here,” Macleod said. “It took two full days, but to have arrived in such a nice culture with great accommodation, waves and warm weather, I’m stoked to be here. There was one minute remaining and I saw four waves lining up and the last one looked like the best. I almost missed it, so when I got it I was relieved. It was my last throw of the dice so I shredded it and I got the score. I’m so happy.

A call will be made at 7:30 for a possible 8am start to Round 3, it’s likely that we will be running at the back-up location again as the same swell direction is predicted for tomorrow.